Fake Dating the Next-Door Neighbor: A Grumpy Sunshine Age Gap Romance

by Zoey Rose

My grumpy neighbor is the last man on earth I'd date... Until my parents decide to visit.

I'm a freelance graphic designer with chaotic work hours, loud music, and an optimism that refuses to die. Garrett Stone is my polar opposite—ex-military, organized, and perpetually scowling. We share a fence and little else.

When my parents announce they're visiting and will undoubtedly lecture me about my "unstable" career and single status, I make the most ridiculous decision of my I ask Garrett to pretend to be my boyfriend. Just for one dinner. Just to shock them into silence.

To my surprise, he agrees. But as we practice holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes "for authenticity," something changes between us. The wall he's built starts crumbling, and I glimpse the man behind the scowl. The way he looks at me makes me wonder... What if we stopped pretending?


Fake Dating the Next-Door Neighbor is a short, sweet, and steamy small town instalove romance with a happy-ever-after. It can be read as a standalone or together with the rest of the books in the Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls series.

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2025

Reviews

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's been avoiding what slams into him...he wants her completely

Fake Dating the Next-Door Neighbor is the sixth book in the Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls series. Sunshine 'Sunny' Bloom moved to Cedar Falls and into a cute little rental house next door to Garrett Stone. She has worked for the last couople of years as a freelances as a graphic designer, designing websites and other things, since dropping out of art school. Garrett was in the Special Forces for fifteen years until a shoulder injury forced him out. He moved to Cedar Falls to be closer to his rehab and now refinishes furniture. He also has been trying to not admit that he has a thing for the colorful, beautiful, happy and sexy younger woman who moved next door. Sunny has a thing for her grumpy but gorgeous older neighbor and may just have a crazy plan that has them falling harder for each other thanks to a visit from her parents.
I really loved this fun, delightful, enticing and enchanting story. Sunny and Garrett are complete opposites but together they balance each other perfectly, filling in the areas that were incomplete before.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Accepting the Inevitable -
Sunny wasn’t going to let Garrett’s grumpiness deter her from asking him to do he4 a favour, so she was shocked when he agreed with some conditions. Even though Garrett was appreciative about agreeing to help Sunny, he was subconsciously thrilled about having the opportunity to be close to her. The agreement was meant to be on a platonic basis, but the sparks between Sunny and Garrett turned the pretence into a reality the moment their lips touched.

Acting on their attraction was never part of the agreement, but Sunny and Garrett finally acknowledged their feelings for each other and embarked on a real relationship, which gave the happy future they both deserved. I really enjoyed reading this heartwarming romance story, with wonderful characters, a well-constructed storyline and enough sexual tension to keep you eagerly turning the pages to find out if they acted on it. I will definitely be happy to recommend this book to everyone.

I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Dating the Next-Door Neighbor is Book 6 of the Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls series. It's a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, opposites-attract, age-gap, grumpy-sunshine, fake-dating, mutual-pining, curvy virgin gets her hunk romance. Sunny is a 25-year-old curvy web designer who embodies her name fully. Garrett is her 40-year-old hunky, grumpy, neighbor. He was in the military for 15 years before being medically discharged and now does custom furniture restoration. The two have been crushing on each other for some time, but Sunny is convinced he doesn't like her and Garrett is worried he is too damaged for her. When Sunny panics after her parents announce a visit, she asks Garrett to be her fake boyfriend for dinner. He reluctantly agrees. But things quickly get hot and steamy and both know their feelings are real. The chemistry between these two was pure fire and the ending was so happy. I loved this entire series, but this one might be my favorite. I loved it.

[Nancy Koske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny had moved to town 8 months ago to work as a freelance graphic designer. Her neighbor,Garrett,is ex-military Special Ops. Sometimes, he complains about her loud music at night. Sunny aka Sunshine is single and not seeing anyone. Her mom wanted her to find a man and questions her career choice. When she learns that her parents are coming to visit. She wants to have a 'fake' boyfriend to stop that issue. Sunny ask Garrett and he agrees with conditions. What conditions? How does the visit go? Does other things happen resulting from the visit preparation and the visit itself?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to wonderful series of short stories - Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls.
What a pair - Real Grumpy Garrett and Sunshine Sunny. When she needs fake boyfriend she doesn't look far and surprisingly her grumpy neighbor agrees. And pretending will give him taste of something he can't have, can he?
Beautiful short and steamy read to enjoy in one go. Wonderful characters and well written, you just feel engaged from the first page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and steamy

I really like both Sunny and Garrett, they are so adorably awkward. Sunny is exactly as her name suggests sweet, bubbly, happy, cheerful and a little chaotic, but she struggles with self confidence... especially when it comes to her parents. But the serious and gruff Garrett gives her the confidence to face her parents, he offers her stability as she adds colour and vibrancy to his life.
They are very sweet, but the heated stolen glances are very steamy as they fight the chemistry that pulses between them.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Suelen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Namoro Falso Com O Vizinho

Ahhh, que romance legal, cheio de elementos que eu amo: vizinhos, age gap, namoro de mentira, mocinho militar, etc. Garrett e Sunny são completos opostos, mas como eles mesmos disseram, ela precisava da estabilidade que ele lhe trouxe, e ele precisava do melhor tipo de caos que ela trouxe para a sua vida. Um era realmente tudo o que o outro precisava. E que epílogo mais perfeito, gente! Tô apaixonada até agora. Com certeza entrou na minha lista de favoritos. Super-Hiper-Ultra-Mega-Power recomendado!

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. Next door neighbours one a brooding ex-military man set in his ways and his neighbor is a bubbly, sunshiny woman who captures his attention. They start out pretending to date so she can get her parents off of her case. Their attraction starts coming out in the middle of everything and the line is blurred between fake and real. I loved this book is was so sweet and fun to read. You won't regret picking this one up.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fake Dating the Next Door Neighbor” by Zoey Rose

-A charming, curvy-girl romance featuring grumpy Garrett and sunshiny Sunny. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Their fake dating deal sparks real feelings and steamy chemistry fast.
Short, sweet, and emotionally satisfying with just the right touch of heat.
A delightful entry in the Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls series.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curvy Wives of Cedar Falls book

Sunny lives next door to a grumpy man. But in the few months Sunny and Garrett have been neighbors she is starting to grow on him. Garrett is disciplined and keeps his home perfect, he likes it quiet and calm and rises early. Sunny is the opposite, playing her music really loud, dancing around, sleeps in, bright and lively. How are they going to pretend to be a couple?

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us an older man/younger woman story that pulls us into the lives of Sunny and Garrett. The fast-paced story keeps us turning the pages with secret desires, a fake relationship, realizations and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romance read is drenched is romance, secrets and entertainment you can’t pass up reading. Sunny and Garret have an interesting relationship that keeps you turning the pages. Very romantic storyline.

[Linnette Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Dating For Real

Her parents are coming and she so wants their approval. She asks her older, serious neighbor to be her fake date for dinner with them. The rest is just romantic fun and surprises until the end, which was wonderful.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Dating

Garrett and Sunny's story has them being neighbors and when her parents come to visit she has him pretend to be her fake boyfriend. But what starts as fake becomes real and lasting after. A short fake relationship, older man/younger woman, grumpy/sunshine ztoryline.

[Flipping Nap Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great, quick read!

Garret and Sunny are great together! Their chemistry is off the charts and the whole “fake boyfriend” charade to get her parents to stop pushing her to settle down is great! I wish this would have been a full length novel.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh so enjoyable and I couldn't put it down. That was a very lovely story from Zoey Rose. I loved it!
5☆

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed fake dating the next door neighbor which was Garrett and Sunny’s story. It was an entertaining read. I received an early copy of the book.

[Vi✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!!!

For being short I feel nothing was left out. Loved how everything went through. Also OH GARRET THE MAN U ARE 😭❤️

[Fiction Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet. No drama.
Good read. Reads fast and easy.
•No cheating
•Virgin fmc
•No ow/om drama
•No push/pull
•No separations
HEA-Married with a son